The not too long ago resurgent Phoenix Suns search their sixth win within the final seven outings on Monday once they host a Toronto Raptors squad aiming for his or her fourth win within the final 5.
Monday’s contest is the fourth in a seven-game Western Conference highway swing for Toronto, which improved to 2-1 on this stretch with a 123-105 rout of Portland on Saturday.
Precious Achiuwa continued his current robust play with 27 factors and 13 rebounds towards the Trail Blazers, marking seven straight video games scoring no less than 11 factors and his fourth double-double in 5 contests.
“I’m still getting in a rhythm, the more games I play,” Achiuwa stated in Saturday’s postgame press convention. “Getting into better shape, as well.”
Achiuwa missed 24 video games from Nov. 11 by way of Dec. 30 on account of an ankle harm. He noticed a gentle uptick in minutes performed since rejoining the lineup on Jan. 2 earlier than getting into the beginning lineup on Jan. 21.
Achiuwa has began three of the previous 5 video games and performed greater than 28 minutes in every of these 5 contests.
“Precious had a very good post-All-Star (weekend) run last season,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse stated. “I’m not sure it’s this good, though. He’s much more just under control, more powerful. It’s like it’s finally slowing down for him a little bit, where he’s getting to spot at his pace and tempo and being able to make good reads.”
Toronto seems to proceed its current improved play towards a Phoenix facet that has achieved an about-face in current contests.
The Suns endured a stretch of 12 losses in 14 video games from Dec. 20 by way of Jan. 16. The workforce’s main scorer — Devin Booker at 27.1 factors per recreation — missed every of these video games, save a Christmas Day loss to Denver during which he performed fewer than 5 minutes.
Booker stays sidelined with a groin harm that the 2021-22 All-NBA honoree instructed reporters final week can be re-evaluated within the coming week. However, Phoenix has successfully adjusted and battled its manner again to above .500 with its current run of performances.
Saturday’s 128-118 extra time win in San Antonio noticed Chris Paul prepared the ground with 31 factors and 10 assists, whereas Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton added 25 and 23 factors, respectively.
Six completely different Suns have scored no less than 20 factors over Phoenix’s previous 5 wins. Josh Okogie got here off the bench to attain 24 factors towards Indiana, Torrey Craig notched 20 factors in a defeat of Memphis and Cameron Johnson had a team-high 24 in a win over Charlotte.
“It’s just the confidence level, us playing that hard,” Ayton stated of Phoenix’s resurgence following Saturday’s win in his postgame media availability. “Being with guys out, dudes stepping up. This confidence isn’t coming out of anywhere. It’s been there since the season started.”
Phoenix has had to make use of patchwork lineups at instances. In addition to Booker’s absence, key position gamers Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne have been sidelined for many of the previous month or extra.
Ayton missed three video games final week on account of a non-COVID sickness, and Paul returned to the rotation from a seven-game absence on Jan. 22.
